I Am Building SLS: Bill Boynton, Program Manager, Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Working in engineering has been a very rewarding career choice for me. I set that goal when I started high school because I enjoyed math and science.

I attended college at Utah State University and received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. I talked to some of my family and high school alumni about what being an engineer was and to make sure I took the right classes that would help me prepare for college. I would highly recommend that for anyone when they are planning their future.

Today, I am the ATK program manager for NASA’s Space Launch System 1st Stage booster structures hardware. My responsibilities include the forward, aft attach and aft skirt structures, which are proven components from the Space Shuttle Program. The forward skirt is one of many critical components of the SLS booster design, and our team is conducting tests to ensure it meets the demanding SLS requirements. We have tested the forward skirt at simulated lift-off and ascent conditions before testing it to failure. The final test demonstrated the structure’s maximum load.

I started my professional career as a rocket nozzle analyst at the Hercules Aerospace company. After a few years, I had the opportunity to go into the sporting goods industry as a product development engineer in the archery industry. In 1998, I decided to go back to aerospace and started working for ATK in the Research and Development laboratories working on space shuttle nozzle materials. That was my first experience with a NASA program, and I was immediately impressed with the attention and rigor that all the employees had for their work.

Life isn’t all about work, though. When I’m not working, I enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, golfing, hiking, riding ATVs, skiing, building things and spending quality time with my family and friends.